Safety door fastener



2 Sheets s 1 Filed Feb. 9, 196

CLAUDE o. WESTOVER ATTORNEYS C. O. WESTOVER SAFETY DOOR FASTENER Nov. 25, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1968 INVENTOR CLAUDE O. WESTOVER IOO yzwq mm ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 292175 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A safety door fastener is mounted on the inside of a door or the like and includes a slidably mounted spring pressed latch adapted to cooperate with a conventional keeper to latch the door. A detent means is provided for holding the latch in either lock or unlock position. A pivotally mounted retaining means is supported adjacent the latch and is engageable therewith. This retaining means is adapted to engage an edge of an associated keeper and hold the latch in unlock position and subsequently pivots away from the latch to allow the latch to move to lock position.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to a safety fastener for screen doors, storm doors and the like which open to the outside, the fastener of the present invention being mounted on the inside of the door to lock it in closed position when so desired.

It is of course desirable to provide a door fastener which automatically latches when the door is closed to hold it in closed position. Additionally, it is often desirable to employ the fastener as a safety means for holding the door shut as when it is desired to prevent children from using the door, to thereby confine the children indoors, for example. The door fastener is also useful as a reminder that the parakeet is out of its cage and has the run of the house.

In the prior art, it has been a common practice to employ a manually operated hook to hold the door shut, this hook being disposed at such a height above the floor as to be out of the reach of children. This type of arrangement is usually used in conjunction with a conventional automatic latching means. However, the hook arrangement is of course not automatic in operation and involves a rather unsightly installation separate from the usual latching means.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides a compact arrangement wherein the various components are disposed within a single housing, the over-all arrangement presenting a neat appearance to the eye. The latching and unlatching functions of the device are substantially automatic in operation. Additionally, detent means is provided for holding the latch of the device in open position so that the device is held out of engagement with an associated keeper. The detent means may also be employed for holding the latch in lock position which either prevents the door from being opened, or prevents the door from being closed and latched if the door is open or ajar, thereby preventing one from being accidentally locked out.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a new and novel safety door fastener which is quite simple, inexpensive and compact in construction, yet which is quite sturdy, reliable and substantially automatic in operation, and further which can be readily held in different operative positions.

Patented Nov. 25, 1969 Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a top perspective view, partly broken away, illustrating the fastener of the present invention in operative position relative to an associated keeper;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1 with a cover of the housing thereof removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 33 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the components in a first operative position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the components in a further operative position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 7--7 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Description of the preferred embodiment receiving suitable attaching means in the form of wood screws 20 or the like for securing the keeper in the operative position illustrated.

A housing is indicated generally by reference numeral 22 and includes a first member 24 as seen in FIG. 2 comprising a first wall portion 26 adapted to fit flush against the inner surface of door 21, wall portion 26 having integral wall portions 28 and 30' extending at substantially right angles from the opposite edges thereof, the wall portion 28 being of greater height than wall portion 30 as seen for example in FIG. 3.

The housing includes a second member indicated generally by reference numeral 40 including a first wall 42 having integral wall portions 44 and 46 extending from opposite ends thereof. The housing portion 40 is of such a configuration as to fit over the housing portion 24 previously described and to define therewith a substantially closed housing as seen in FIG. 1.

As seen in FIG. 2, an integral threaded stud 50 extends from the wall portion 26 of housing portion 24, and as seen in FIG. 1, the outer end of the threaded stud extends through a hole in the wall 42 of housing portion 40 and has a suitable nut or the like 52 secured on the outer end thereof for holding the housing portion 40 in assembled relationship with respect to housing portion 24. It is apparent that when it is desired to gain access to the interior of the housing, fastener member 52 is removed from threaded stud 50, and the housing portion 40 may be removed to expose the interior of the housing as shown in FIG. 2.

As seen most clearly for example in FIGS. 4 and 6, the wall portions 30 and 28 of housing portion 24 have generally rectangular holes and 62 formed therethrough respectively. A latch indicated generally by reference numeral 66 includes a first elongated portion 68 of generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration which is slidably mounted within the holes 60 and 62 so that the latch is adapted to slide relative to the housing.

The elongated portion 68 of the. latch joins with an integral outwardly extending end portion 70 which is generally arcuate in configuration to facilitate grasping thereof and which has an outwardly facing curved cam surface 72 formed thereon for a purpose hereinafter described. An elongated pivot pin 76 has an eye portion 78 formed at the lower end thereof as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. This pivot pin is free fitted within a suitable hole provided in the elongated portion 68 of the latch.

The retaining means of the invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 80 and includes a plate-like portion 82 having opposite down-turned edge portions forming ears 84 and 86. These ears have holes formed therethrough, and as seen especially for example in FIGS. 4 and 6, the elongated hole formed through ear 84 receives the pivot pin 76 previously described, it being understood that the hole in the opposite ear 86 is of substantially identical construction.

The plate-like portion 82 has a generally rectangular hole formed therethrough of greater dimension than the cross-sectional rectangular dimension of the portion 68 of the latch whereby the retaining means is adapted to pivot through a limited degree of movement with respect to the latch.

An elongated slot portion 88 is formed in wall portion 28 of the housing and a portion 90 of the retaining means fixedly secured to the plate-like portion 82 extends freely through this slot and is movable with respect thereto.

The portion 90 of the retaining means includes an offset portion 92 at the outer end thereof having a flattened end 94 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A compression spring 98 is disposed in surrounding relationship to the elongated portion 68 of the latch. One end of the spring engages the wall portion 30 of the housing, while the opposite end of the spring engages the platelike portion 82 of the retaining means.

It should be noted as seen in FIGS. 4 and 6 that the pivot pin 76 is disposed off-center with respect to the latch whereby the retaining means is mounted for pivotal movement about such off-center axis, and whereby the spring 98 serves the dual function of normally urging the latch to the right as seen in these figures, and additionally, tends to urge the retaining means in a clockwise direction.

A slot 100 is formed in one end of the latch and comprises a first recess. A hole 104 is formed through the latch and defines a second recess, the purpose of these recesses being hereinfater set forth.

A detent means is indicated generally by reference numeral 110 and includes an offset manually graspable :doubled portion 112 which has a free end freely movable within a slot 114 formed in the wall portion 30 of the housing.

The detent means includes an integral straight upwardly extending portion 120 which is joined by a bight portion 122 with a depending portion 124 extending substantially parallel with the portion 120. The lower end of portion 124 terminates in a tapered end 126, this tapered end facilitating entry of the retaining means into one of the aforementioned recesses formed in the latch.

A screw 130 is threaded within a suitable threaded hole provided in Wall portion 30 of the housing, and a nut 132 is threaded on the inner end of the screw to maintain it in operative position. A compression spring 134 is disposed in surrounding relationship to the screw and is in abutment with the enlarged head thereof. This compression spring engages a flattened annular washer 136 which as seen most clearly in FIG. 7 bears against each of the portions 120 and 124 of the detent means. This resiliently bias washer will tend to hold the detent means in adjusted position.

An operating means includes an arm 140 which is disposed at the outside surface of the door so as to be operated from the exterior of the door whereby the latch may be operated from outside the door when it is closed.

A fitting 142 is disposed on the outer surface of the door for supporting the operating means, arm 140 of the .4 operating means joining with an arm portion 146 extending substantially normally therefrom. This arm portion 146 extends through a suitable hole provided in the door and the wall portion 26 of the housing. A sleeve 148 is disposed in surrounding relationship to arm portion 146 and extends between the wall portion 26 and the curved portion of the arm which joins with a depending arm portion 150 extending substantially normally from arm portion 146. This arm portion 150 in turn joins with a generally perpendicularly extending arm portion 152 Whig}; fits through the eye 78 of the aforementioned pivot pin It is apparent that pivotal movement of the arm 140 of the operating means will cause movement of the latch relative to the housing.

The apparatus is illustrated in its lock position in FIGS. 14 inclusive. It will be noted that in this position, the latch is disposed behind the keeper portion 18 and that the door cannot be opened outwardly. It will further be noted that the retaining means has been pivoted counter clockwise into the position shown especially in FIG. 4. In this lock position, the detent means may be urged downwardly so that the portion 124 thereof is disposed within the slot in the latch to thereby hold the latch in its lock position. Additionally, if the door should be open or ajar and the latch held in this lock position by the detent means, it is apparent that the door cannot be closed, thereby preventing accidentally locking oneself out. In the lock position, the latch also provides an antirattle feature since it is resiliently held against the keeper portion 18.

When it is desired to unlatch the mechanism and open the door, the latch may be moved to the left from the position shown in FIG. 4 to that shown in FIG. 5 whereupon the retaining means is urged into the position illustrated whereby the edge portion 160 thereof is adapted to engage the edge of the keeper portion 18. This position is illustrated in FIG. 6, and it is evident that when the latch is released, the safety door fastener will remain in this position until it is desired to open the door. The door may then be freely swung outwardly in the usual manner, and the latch will be prevented from moving into lock position by the retaining means until the door has been sufliciently swung outwardly until the latch can no longer move into lock position.

When the door is subsequently moved from the open position to the closed position, the cam surface 72 on the latch will move the latch to the left as seen in FIGS. 4 and 6 against the force of spring 98. As the latch clears the keeper portion 18, the flat end 94 of the retaining means will engage the outwardly facing surface of keeper portion 18 thereby preventing the retaining means from moving beyond such outwardly facing surface of the keeper portion 18. The latch will then move to the right as it clears the rearwardly facing surface of keeper portion 18 under the influence of spring 98, and the components will be moved into the operative position illustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the components have been illustrated in an intermediate position ready for opening movement of the door. It will be noted as seen in this figure that hole 104 of the latch is slightly to the right of the outer surface of housing wall 30' upon which the detent means is mounted. By moving the latch slightly to the left from the position shown in FIG. 6, the hole 104 will be moved into position for receiving the portion 124 of the detent means for holding the apparatus in unlock position wherein both the latch and the retaining means will clear the keeper portion so that the door may be swung freely inwardly and outwardly.

The latch can of course be operated manually either by grasping the portion 70 thereof when one is standing inside the door, or by moving the arm of the operating means when one is standing outside of the door.

The latch can be freely moved by either of these manually graspable means except when the detent means is received within one of the recesses in the latch and held in such position. The detent means must of course be removed from either of the recesses in the latch before the latch can be freely operated.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according to the present invention a new and novel safety door fastener which is quite simple, inexpensive and compact in construction, yet which is quite sturdy, reliable and substantially automatic in operation, and further which can be readily held in different operative positions as desired.

I claim:

1. A safety door fastener comprising support means adapted to be supported on a door or the like, a latch slidably supported by said support means and being adapted to engage a keeper, resilient means carried by said latch and normally biasing said latch in one direction, and retaining means carried by and having one end thereof pivoted about an axis fixed with respect to said latch and operatively connected therewith for retaining the latch in a particular position said resilient biasing means also biasing said retaining means so as to urge the retaining means in one direction of pivotal movement with respect to said latch, saidretaining means extending beyond an end portion of said latch for engaging an associated keeper.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including detent means movably supported by said support means and engageable with a portion of said latch for holding the latch in different operative positions.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said latch has a recess formed therein for receiving a portion of the detent means to hold the latch in a first operative position.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said latch also includes a second recess formed therein for receiving said detent means to hold the latch in a further operative position.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including operating means operatively connected with said latch and adapted to extend through an associated door so that the latch may be operated from outside an associated door.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said latch includes an arcuate outer end portion, said latch having spaced recesses formed therein, detent means slidably mounted on said housing and movable into said recesses in said latch for holding the latch in different operative positions, said retaining means being pivotally supported by said latch, said resilient biasing means also engaging said retaining means and urging the retaining means in one direction of pivotal movement with respect to said latch, said retaining means extending beyond said one end portion of the latch. 7

7. A safety door fastener comprising support means adapted to be supported on a door or the like, a latch slidably supported by said support means and being adapted to engage a keeper, resilient means normally biasing said latch in one direction, and retaining means movably supported adjacent said latch and operatively connected therewith for retaining the latch in a particular position, said retaining means having an end portion pivotally connected to said latch, said resilient biasing means engaging said portion of said retaining means offcenter with respect to the pivotal support thereof so as to normally resiliently bias said retaining means in one direction of pivotal movement with respect to said latch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 305,294 9/1884 Corn 292175 1,235,446 7/1917 Dastoli 9436 1,444,499 2/1923 Fisher 292335 1,768,326 6/ 1930 Miller 292-l53 2,468,406 4/ 1949 Mora l29 2,710,216 6/1955 Eichacker 292-335 2,723,873 11/1955 Schlage 292335 2,927,814 3/1960 ReitzeI 292-335 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner ROBERT L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

